The National Pest Management Association Completes Its Mission to Haiti

Fairfax, VA – The fourth and final humanitarian delegation of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) completed its mission to Haiti in mid-July. Over the past year, NPMA provided much-needed assistance to several facilities in Port-au-Prince through its collaboration with the Haitian Minister of Environment, a Haitian pest management company and hospital and orphanage administrators. In the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake, pest infestations had become a serious threat to human health, especially in places such as hospitals and orphanages.

NPMA used its resources to minimize entry points for pests, purchase products designed to prevent pest infestations in buildings, and to train Haitian pest control workers so they can properly perform pest control operations as the country continues its recovery.

“The National Pest Management Association and our delegates are humbled and honored to have been able to contribute our resources and expertise to a country in need,” said Rob Lederer, executive vice president for NPMA. “While the services our delegates provided may seem basic to most Americans, in Haiti they can mean the difference between sickness and health — and even life and death.”

“NPMA is extremely grateful to the delegates and industry members who contributed to this mission over the past year. These men and women left the comforts of home and risked their health and safety in order to help others in need. We commend them for their big hearts and selfless work,” added Lederer.

NPMA delegates and their Haitian pest control counterparts worked to install more than 500 screens to protect hospital patients from disease-carrying flies and mosquitoes in areas such as delivery rooms, neonatal care areas, as well as emergency and operating rooms. Flies are vectors of more than 100 different kinds of disease-causing germs and mosquitoes are responsible for spreading diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and West Nile virus.

Teams also installed 500 rat bait stations and more than 200 fly bait stations at three hospitals and one orphanage in the capital city. St. Damien’s Hospital administrators reported that the recent addition of rat control services has greatly reduced rat populations with approximately 100 rats being removed from the grounds each day. The results of which are significant, as rodents are known to spread filth, contaminate food and transmit disease.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Fascinating Pest Facts

These tidbits of information never cease to fascinate me. Hope you are enjoying them too! (If you have an interesting bit of pest or insect trivia, be sure to share it with me by posting it below. ~ Dave)

• All insects have a hard exoskeleton, six jointed legs, two antennae, compound eyes and a body divided into 3 main body sections - a head, thorax and abdomen.
• Men claim their number one pest concern to be termites (24%) while women put spiders as their number one pest concern (16%).
• Powderpost beetles larvae will tunnel into hardwood floors, wooden antiques and the like, turning the wood in its path into fine, powdery sawdust.

If you're concerned about insects or rodents in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Powderpost Beetles

Powderpost beetles lay their eggs in cracks of wood and the larvae tunnel into the surface, filling it with a very fine powder-like dust. Powderpost beetles have long, narrow, flat bodies that allow them to easily attack wood surfaces. These beetles are reddish-brown in color. Adult powderpost beetles are very active at night, enjoy flying and are attracted to the light.

Powderpost beetles often attack hardwoods, and can be found in hardwood floors, timbers and crates, antiques and other objects made of hardwood materials.

Some researchers believe that powderpost beetles are second only to termites in the United States in their destructiveness to wood and wood products. Powderpost beetles can be prevented through vigilant inspection of wood sources in the home.

If you're concerned that you have powderpost beetles in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Prevent Pests From Crashing Your Summer BBQ

The NPMA offers the following tips to help you better enjoy your outdoor summer activities:

Picnics and barbeques are frequent occurrences during the summer months, when weekends, holidays, and vacations are often cause for celebration with family and friends. More often than not, hosts and guests alike must deal with pesky party crashers, in the form of ants, flies and stinging insects. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) reminds homeowners that there are several ways to show those pests the door, or even prevent them from showing up altogether.

“Nothing ruins summertime fun like ants, flies, mosquitoes, wasps and other stinging insects,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “Not only do they annoy and irritate your guests, but they can also transmit disease and cause painful bites and stings.”

The NPMA recommends the following steps to avoid a pest-filled picnic or barbeque:

* Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, so if you are planning a barbeque before sunset, plan on having plenty of insect repellant containing an EPA-registered active ingredient like DEET or Picaridin available for you and your guests. Adorn your deck or patio with citronella candles, and wear long sleeves or pants to avoid bites.
* Ants and flies are attracted to barbeque fare, so take steps to keep food safe by using tightly sealed containers or coolers. Also, be sure to clean trash, crumbs, and spills from picnic tables immediately. Store all trash away from the party and always keep your garbage bins covered.
* Yellow jackets and other stinging insects are attracted to fragrances from shampoo, perfume, and candles – not to mention food and drink. Avoid using scented items beforehand and provide clear plastic cups for your guests as aluminum cans and plastic bottles are good hiding spots for stinging insects.
* Prior to the party, check screen doors and repair any holes. Once the guests have arrived, remind them to shut the door behind them in order to keep pests from entering your home.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net
1-800-400-6009

Reference: www.pestworld.org

More Pest Trivia....

Did you know. . .

• On many butterflies the color is only an illusion. The color we perceive is created by refraction of the light as it reflects off the surface of the scale.
• Ants are the #1 nuisance pest in the United States.
• Approximately 25% of homeowners surveyed perceived ants, termites, and ticks as difficult to control.

If you're concerned about insects or rodents in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Damaging Insects

Here's a question for you to ponder... Do ants damage property?

Yes, they do.  Besides ruining human food, some species of ants can damage wood in and around homes.  Carpenter ants, for example, like to make their nests in porches, roofs, windowsills, even telephone poles.

Ants are social insects that prefer nesting in wood. They commonly hollow out galleries or tunnels in trees, structures, wood, and foam insulation. Carpenter ants are often found in conjunction with moisture problems. An indication of possible infestation is evidence of sawdust, pieces of insulation, nesting materials, and winged adults, known as swarmers.

To protect your home against carpenter ants, a seasonal visit program may be the solution. This allows us to get to your home before the wood destroying ants do each year. 

So, if you're concerned that you have an ant problem in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
http://www.davespestcontrol.net

Hot, Humid Weather Breeds Summer Insects

All the rain and the bouts of hot and humid weather are ideal conditions for many summer insects. That's why we offer our customers seasonal pest control plans. Here is what the summer brings...

Pests: All of the new beginnings from spring have come to full bloom in the summer for pest activity. The maximum activity puts more pressure on our homes as the insects are seeking more favorable living conditions for food, moisture, lower temperatures, harborage, etc. All of these can be quickly found in our homes.

Stinging Insects: The predators of the insect world (scorpions, spiders, centipedes, etc.) follow their prey into our homes during this increased activity. They enter through cracks, crevices, damaged areas around our doors, windows, eaves, weep holes, plumbing penetrations, electrical/utility connections, etc. They are not seeking us, but interaction between people and these "stinging" insects is inevitable when we share the same living space.

If you're concerned about the summer pests in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net